Statistical analysis of Timiryazevo III hillfort's pottery complex and its cultural and chronological context

In 2009 and 2013 according to the materials of excavations of hillfort Timiryazevo III located in Tomsk Ob region was obtained ceramic assemblage which includes rims of 267 vessels. In the result of statistical analysis were revealed basic morphological features of ceramics and its decoration. The greatest distribution in pottery complex of hillfort Timiryazevo III got round bottom vessels having a straight shape rim: with rounded cut; beveled inward horizontal cut and sharp cut. During the decoration of vessels were used 20 ornamental elements executed in the technique of stamping (punching) dimple. The number of vessels without ornament was lowest. The elements of the ornament formed 40 decorative motives. They all had a horizontal position. The most frequent ornamental motives are: horizontal rows of pits, interpenetrating triangular stamp, inclined vertical and horizontal comb stamp, interpenetrating semi-oval stamp, smooth ducks. The motives of ornament formed 66 decorative compositions. In spite of differences, pottery found in hillfort Timiryazevo III has the closest analogy in the materials of Fominskaya cultural monuments (III-IV centuries AD) which are located in south areas of Barnaul and Novosibirsk Ob region. The lack of genetic continuity of pottery in hillfort Timiryazevo III in the earlier settlement complexes of Ob region indicates that Fominsk type pottery appeared in the Tomsk Ob region in the crystalized form. This shows that in III-IV centuries AD the migration of Fominsk population occurred in a north direction, which covers the Tomsk Ob region. According to the author's opinion, the reason of migration was the establishment of abnormally warm period between 228-327 years AD, as a result was drying up of arid zones of the northern hemisphere. Archaeological evidences suggest that since III century AD Tomsk Ob region was strongly drawn into the sphere of south influence. This conclusion does not quite fit into the concept of the territorial framework of local groups of Kulai cultural and historical community when Narym and Tomsk Ob regions primarily relate to the distribution area of Sarov ceramics, and Novosibirsk and Barnaul Ob regions with Fominsk ceramics. New data suggest that Upper Ob region in the III-IV centuries AD was a territory where were similar cultural and historical processes. First of all, it is expressed in the similarity of ceramic complexes.

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